Preview — Summer of Salt
by Katrina Leno

Summer of Salt

Georgina Fernweh waits with growing impatience for the tingle of magic in her fingers—magic that has been passed down through every woman in her family. Her twin sister, Mary, already shows an ability to defy gravity. But with their eighteenth birthday looming at the end of this summer, Georgina fears her gift will never come.

AA magic passed down through generations . . .

Georgina Fernweh waits with growing impatience for the tingle of magic in her fingers—magic that has been passed down through every woman in her family. Her twin sister, Mary, already shows an ability to defy gravity. But with their eighteenth birthday looming at the end of this summer, Georgina fears her gift will never come.

An island where strange things happen . . .

No one on the island of By-the-Sea would ever call the Fernwehs what they really are, but if you need the odd bit of help—say, a sleeping aid concocted by moonlight—they are the ones to ask.

No one questions the weather, as moody and erratic as a summer storm.

No one questions the (allegedly) three-hundred-year-old bird who comes to roost on the island every year.

A summer that will become legend . . .

When tragedy strikes, what made the Fernweh women special suddenly casts them in suspicion. Over the course of her last summer on the island—a summer of storms, of love, of salt—Georgina will learn the truth about magic, in all its many forms....more

My heart has the deep overwhelming desire to be held close in a dimly lit room, covered in blankets while rain is softly falling outside. I picked up Summer of Salt for an enchanting blend of the whimsy and the queer—in both senses of the word—and left with so much more, and for that sole reason, it was perfection.

So, what's this book about?

Stories grow in the small town of By-the-Sea as they do anywhere, fed on whispers and rumors and half-truths. Twin sisters Georgina and Mary Fernweh areMy heart has the deep overwhelming desire to be held close in a dimly lit room, covered in blankets while rain is softly falling outside. I picked up Summer of Salt for an enchanting blend of the whimsy and the queer—in both senses of the word—and left with so much more, and for that sole reason, it was perfection.

So, what's this book about?

Stories grow in the small town of By-the-Sea as they do anywhere, fed on whispers and rumors and half-truths. Twin sisters Georgina and Mary Fernweh are folded into those stories as they come from an ancestry line who is reputed to possess inexplicable abilities that range from telepathy to teleportation—a fact that has made the sisters inured to oddities of strange occurrences, like the annual appearances of the 300-year-old bird Annabella who’s rumored to be a Fernweh foremother. This only enhanced the otherworldliness of the small town in the eyes of every bird enthusiast and tourist who flocks every summer to By-the-Sea to see her, amongst whom are Prue and her brother, Harrison.

Georgina spends her last days of summer worrying whether her talents were ever going to be made manifest like her sister’s and bonding with the sensitive and attentive Prue as the first tendrils of a sapphic romance begin to bloom. However, a new jarring reality rattles the town: Annabella never shows up.

And when everyone finds, to shared horror, her corpse in a barn, the town’s accusatory gaze immediately shifts to one Fernweh twin: Mary. Georgina is convinced that there was simply no scenario in which her sister hurt Annabella, but Mary is acting strange and in place of that faith has now grown a suspicion that Mary is hiding some secret Georgina wouldn’t know until she found it burning into her skin.

“She was tied to the water, my sister. Moods like tides, temper like a hungry shark.”

Amid the eeriness of the small-town backdrop, Leno winds arabesques of magical realism, and built on the bones of that magic is a powerful story about the secrets we keep and the lies we tell, and the unimaginable courage it takes to reveal our truths to each other and to the world.

Summer of Salt took me down paths I didn’t see coming. Toward the end, the reading experience radically shifts gears, and trust me when I tell you that this book has a vicious way of punching you in the gut, especially if you're not looking.

This is a collection of dexterous, poignant, beautifully optimistic moments that left me breathless and as though there were embers stirring inside my heart. This is a story that delves deep into the murky waters of rape culture and issues forth a boiling darkness—only to fracture it into a hundred fluttering smithereens of lights, which we call “hope”. It’s a rather apt tale for our times.

This is a story of sisterly devotion that lends its voice for yours, which had been silenced. It’s a reminder that you are not a broken thing, you are whole as you are, and you should never forget how you’ve done and are doing the bravest thing of all: you’ve survived, and you’ve kept forging a way onward, though there were easiest paths to take. And not only had Leno made this amalgamation of emotions so tangible, she had done it in less than a 100 pages.

Though I think some characters could do with a little more depth (*side eyes Prue and Harrison*) and I wished for more interactions between Prue and Georgina, still, Summer of Salt is a novel as loving as it is fierce, warm and accomplished. It’s a comforting and hopeful story with a deep heart and a pair of brass knuckles in its pocket for when things get rough. It’s a reminder that all we can do when faced with what seems to be inescapable doom, is to hold onto the ones we love, and fight against the despair, fight for the right thing.

As the town of By-the-Sea has never questioned the existence of a 300-year-old bird, they learned to never question an assault survivor.

“Because there was nothing in a girl’s history that might negate her right to choose what happens to her body.”

REPRESENTATION: Georgina is a lesbian. Prue is still navigating her sexuality and hasn't used a label but it's mentioned that she's attracted to multiple genders. Vira, Georgina's best friend is an aro/ace girl. The cutest, most wholesome sapphic romance.

(My amazing friend Madalyn, at Novel Ink, gave this to me as a birthday gift!) 💖

“Of all the stories about my family, the Fernweh women and the island of By-the-Sea, there are two that no one will ever forget. One is the story of how my sister, Mary, and I were born. And the other is the story of the summer we turned eighteen. This summer.”

This was nothing short of a beautiful delight to read. This was moving, and powerful, and magical, and sweet, yet also heartbreaking. This reads like a mix(My amazing friend Madalyn, at Novel Ink, gave this to me as a birthday gift!) 💖

“Of all the stories about my family, the Fernweh women and the island of By-the-Sea, there are two that no one will ever forget. One is the story of how my sister, Mary, and I were born. And the other is the story of the summer we turned eighteen. This summer.”

This was nothing short of a beautiful delight to read. This was moving, and powerful, and magical, and sweet, yet also heartbreaking. This reads like a mix between Girl Made of Stars and The Wicked Deep, and if you love either (bonus points for both) then you will completely love this story, too!

This book is set on a very small island, where Georgina and Mary’s graduating class only consisted of 30ish kids. This summer is not only Georgina and Mary’s eighteenth birthday, but it is also the last summer before they leave the island for the first time to go away to college. Their mother runs the inn that has been in their family for many generations. Yet, no one really stays until the summer solstice, when a magical bird comes to the island and attracts so many tourists.

➽ Georgina - Our main character, a lesbian, and a witch who has not discovered her power(s). ➽ Mary - Georgina’s twin sister, who has already discovered that her power allows her to float in midair. ➽ Vira - Georgina’s best friend, who works at the local ice cream parlor, who is aroace, and my freakin’ favorite. ➽ Prue - Visiting the island, bisexual, and has feelings for Georgina. ➽ Harrison - Prue’s brother, who has come to the island to see a bird that appears every summer. ➽ Annabella - The magical, one of a kind, bird, who also might be somehow related to Georgina and Mary.

“I think a person can be a home, sometimes, just as much as a place or a house can.”

The entire island, and all of these character’s lives change when Annabella doesn’t make her annual arrival to the island. Georgina makes it her mission to not only find out what happened to Annabella, but also what happened to her sister, Mary, because she is acting really depressed and secretive. Georgina also is trying to figure out if she will never manifest any magical abilities like most of the women in her family, and she is also realizing that maybe she has real feelings for someone visiting the island this summer.

Yet, this book also has a darker message about rape and rape culture and the topic is laced throughout the entire story, so please use caution. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a relationship with the person. It doesn’t matter if you’ve had sex before. It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing. It doesn’t matter what you’ve said before. It doesn’t matter any circumstances; if it’s not consensual then it is rape. Rape culture is so real, so apparent, and so very much thriving in 2018. And for anyone who needs it, especially right now: I believe you.

“Because there was nothing in a girl’s history that might negate her right to choose what happens to her body.”

This is also a story about sisterhood, and unconditional love, and it discusses the sacrifices that we are willing to make to help the ones we love. This is a book about sexuality and those moments when you feel so validated and you feel like you are finally the person you’ve always wanted to be. This is a book about community, and found family, and respecting your family heritage, culture, and customs.

“How I would miss you—every part of you—but especially the smell, always the smell: of salt, of brine, of water, of spells, or potions, or feathers, and of what it would mean to leave it all in just two months.”

Overall, I just loved this. I think it’s the perfect blend of light and dark. It feels so whimsical since witchcraft is delicately folded in to this story, but it feels so hard-hitting and realistic, too. The messages, discussions, and themes are important and life changing. The characters feel completely fleshed out and I couldn’t help but fall in love with all of them. Plus, the f/f romance in this was magnificent and gave me all the feels. And this story is written so very lyrically, that I never wanted it to end, because I wanted to stay on this island with these characters forever. I truly loved this, and I think it’s one of the best 2018 publications. I recommend it with my entire heart and soul.

Content and trigger warnings for off page rape and sexual assault, mention of drugging people without them knowing (not in a date rape way, but it still felt bad to read), underage drinking, drug use, anxiety depictions, and an animal death.

I always expect a beautifully magical time when it comes to a Leno book. 😍And actually excuse me while I sit here all starry-eyed, but this was EXACTLY as beautiful and magical as I hoped. (Although I think my favourite Leno book is always going to be Everything All at Once because BOOKS. And ANXIETY. Basically the most relatable thing ever.)

This one is slightly more magicy than the others, with a family living on an island who actually do downright witchy things like float and turn into birdsI always expect a beautifully magical time when it comes to a Leno book. 😍And actually excuse me while I sit here all starry-eyed, but this was EXACTLY as beautiful and magical as I hoped. (Although I think my favourite Leno book is always going to be Everything All at Once because BOOKS. And ANXIETY. Basically the most relatable thing ever.)

This one is slightly more magicy than the others, with a family living on an island who actually do downright witchy things like float and turn into birds and make potions. But all in such a chill way that you kind of can look at it without looking at it. Or that's what the other islanders do. I absolutely loooved the world. And it was all The Scorpio Races vibes mixed with every Anna-Marie McLemore and I just !!! Whimsical but also with a really hard-hitting underlying story to make your face kind of water.

SMOL LIST OF THINGS TO EXPECT:• an island that's mostly quiet until birdwatching season• a 300 year old bird that everyone loves• twin sisters who are nothing alike• Mary can float• Georgie (narrator) is unmagical• Like so many solidly fantastic female friendships• the absolute CUTEST EVER QUEER GIRLS ROMANCE • quite a lot of cake• whimsical but also cutely quirky writing• some DEEP BAD THINGS• a lot of coffee• FEATHERS

And Georgie and Prue were kind of the cutest thing. Prue is visiting the island with her birdwatching brother and Georgie (obviously) lives there and her family runs the inn. But George is basically like:

Georgie: this girl Prue is kind of cuteGeorgie: but like what's the point she's leaving and I'm going to college soonGeorgie: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯Prue: hiGeorge: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was so soft™ and sweet™ and I just loved them and how their friendship and feelings developed. Ah!

My actual only negatives is...the birds. Lmao hear me out, I just actually don't love birds. (I was attacked by a kookaburra when I was a smol bean ok. I'm traumatised. It stole my lunch and swiped my face.) And then when everyone is literally SO FREAKING INVESTED in this bird (and later (view spoiler)[they have the freaking FUNERAL FOR IT and everyone is devastateddddd (hide spoiler)]) I was just sitting here with a fake smile going: right then. But the whole story and the aesthetic of the island was my FAV so this didn't detract. I just didn't really care??

And it does have a pretty darker undertone at the end. Which I thought was addressed and handled so well. But omg.

Anyway, basically a Katrina Leno book will NOT disappoint! I was totally swept up in the magic of this, and the aesthetic of the quaint and weird island, and people shedding feathers and eating cake and mysteries threatening to tear their world apart. SO GOOD....more

I cannot even begin to tell you guys how much I loved this book. I went into it thinking it was going to be a fun, queer contemporary romance with some whimsical elements, and while it did feature all of those things, it was SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. This is my new favorite book of the year. It’s a mix of the Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender and the Wicked Deep and just everything I’ve ever wanted in a whimsical book. I loved this SO MUCH.

3,5* - Awesome atmosphere, quite a unique premise and a VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE. (Even though the sentence "Men are always killing things" is definitely too much for me. Please stop hating on man for the sake of feminism, that's not really what it's about)

BUT it was way too short! Especially the last quarter felt very rushed and a little overdone. Everything happened so fast and that just made it feel less real and overdramatic. The characters could've used a little more depth as well, they were3,5* - Awesome atmosphere, quite a unique premise and a VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE. (Even though the sentence "Men are always killing things" is definitely too much for me. Please stop hating on man for the sake of feminism, that's not really what it's about)

BUT it was way too short! Especially the last quarter felt very rushed and a little overdone. Everything happened so fast and that just made it feel less real and overdramatic. The characters could've used a little more depth as well, they were well written but there just wasn't enough.

"Are you happy at all?" she asked tentatively."Of course I'm happy. Why wouldn't I be happy?""Oh, I don't know. Sometimes you just find reasons not to be."

4 stars for a beautifully written and enchanting book.

Summer of Salt is the magical, whimsical story of falling in love, two twins, and a summer unlike any before. It focuses on a story passed down through generations, on birds-that-might-not-be-birds, on the magic and darkness that lurks just beneath the island's peaceful waves. With inspir

"Are you happy at all?" she asked tentatively."Of course I'm happy. Why wouldn't I be happy?""Oh, I don't know. Sometimes you just find reasons not to be."

4 stars for a beautifully written and enchanting book.

Summer of Salt is the magical, whimsical story of falling in love, two twins, and a summer unlike any before. It focuses on a story passed down through generations, on birds-that-might-not-be-birds, on the magic and darkness that lurks just beneath the island's peaceful waves. With inspiration from one of Edgar Allen Poe's gorgeous poems, this book casts a spell over you that lasts even after the final page, and while not without its flaws, it was a really enjoyable read.

I wasn't sure what to expect when diving into this novel. The magical-family premise made it sound like the synopsis for Wild Beauty; in the first chapter, I was reminded distinctly of Shea Ernshaw's The Wicked Deep by the witchy seaside setting and the vivid descriptions. However, as I delved in deeper, I saw that this book is clearly its own unique tale.

the good bits

— ▸ It's a heartwarming teenage love story between two girls - Georgina and Prue. It was so wonderful to see the LGBT community represented like this, where the narrator completely accepts her sexuality and isn't judged harshly by others for it. Of course books where LGBT people struggle and fight for their rights are important, because these problems are a very real issue in society - but it was so charming and lovely to see Georgina falling in love simply and easily, a sweet girl and another sweet girl doing sweet things. Leno does a great job of normalising queer relationships, which is something that I feel needs to be done more in the YA genre.

— ▸ One of this novel's really strong points was the writing style. I loved the way that Leno wrote; when I read this, it was like reading a fairy tale, and if I closed my eyes, I could almost picture myself there, on a strange little island that always smelled like salt. The prose is absolutely gorgeous, and really adds to strengthen the story.

"The dead loved promises; the living loved promising."

— ▸ I really loved the twins' characters. In particular, I was fascinated by Mary. She was such an interesting character to read about - full of beauty and magic and happiness, bold and bright and daring - but also insecure, secretive, broken. She had so much more depth to her than Prue; she was just vivid in a way that stays in your mind.

"She was born for oceanside bonfires, long gauzy dresses and uncombed hair, the scent of salt like a blanket you can't peel off your skin. She was born for the smell of the water, for the way it sank into your bones, stained your skin, dyed your blood a deep, salty blue."

— ▸ I loved the backstory as well as the strong female friendship Georgina has with Vira, an aro/ace girl with a unique clothing style who makes the best witty remarks. The dialogue in this book was hilarious at times.

— ▸ The topic of rape is discussed briefly towards the end of this book, and I feel like the author handled it so well. There was plenty of shade towards people in our society who tend to "victim-blame", and pointed remarks about how society should really treat people who've been abused like this. Rather than shaming them and refusing to believe them,we should help them up and offer them kindness.

— ▸ Despite a slow start, things pick up quickly and soon the story escalates into darkness, mystery, fear and action, culminating in an ending that felt just right whilst suitably heartbreaking and horrifying.

the issues

— ▸ The whole deal with Georgina's powers was a little predictable. This wasn't toooo annoying, but I personally like a lot more guessing.

— ▸ While I do think the romance was charming, I don't think it was amazing. The potential was there, but I don't feel that Prue (the love interest) was ever really, truly characterised. It was insta-love. Given enough development, these two could easily have become one of my favourite YA couples of all time, but unfortunately the romance was a little too contrived and lacking in depth. This was a problem with a lot of the side characters, too: I just didn't know them.

— ▸ The first half of the book leaned towards the slower side, focusing mainly on building up the setting and Georgina telling us what was supposed to happen. This made the story drag a little, but not in a way that made me inclined to stop reading, especially because this is where most of the romance happened.

This is a book that sticks in your head after you read it. Too often, I finish a book and it's sort of this grey space in my mind - I'd remember the characters if I had to, but it otherwise didn't leave an impression. This book, however, clings to you like the effects of a magic potion from a certain Fernweh lady on By-The-Sea. This would be a great summer read.

Thank you to HarperTeen for sending me my first ever e-ARC via Edelweiss!

i'm going to be frank with you, going into this i expected magical realism and rape. that's the two things i had heard about this book. so i kept putting off reading it.

and yes, this book does have both of those things but it has a lot more. the first thing i noticed when reading was the way i immediately felt like i was in By The Sea. katrina leno doesn't rely on overly purple prose but even in the dead of winter i felt like i was in this small magnot at all what i expected, but twice as lovely

i'm going to be frank with you, going into this i expected magical realism and rape. that's the two things i had heard about this book. so i kept putting off reading it.

and yes, this book does have both of those things but it has a lot more. the first thing i noticed when reading was the way i immediately felt like i was in By The Sea. katrina leno doesn't rely on overly purple prose but even in the dead of winter i felt like i was in this small magical beach town.

and the characters and their interactions also had a dreamy but realistic quality. georgina and mary's interactions in particular felt very true to my sister relationship. she might be a bitch, but you'd still die for her. mary was so accepting of georgina's sexuality and in return georgina supported her sister sleeping around. no slut shaming here.

that level of acceptance was true of pretty much all the relationships between characters in the book. the friendships were true and amazing. the romantic relationships were as well.

and even though there was rape and it definitely made you feel sad it didn't have quite the same tone as with other books. there wasn't a graphic retelling of the events. and the character who was assaulted got justice instead of harassment. and while there was rape and there was a message there it didn't feel like this book was solely focused on rape culture. which i personally appreciated, since most of the books i've read that speak about rape culture topically don't do the best of jobs.

anyway this was dreamy and lovely and unlike anything i've read before. give it a gooooo...more

Summer of Salt is an incredibly atmospheric book that makes you feel like you're right there with the characters!

“On the island of By-the-Sea you could always smell two things: salt and magic.”

What had initially convinced me to pick this book up was the f/f romance. I'm normally not that into any kind of "witch" stories and don't read much fabulism anymore. But something about this book reached out to me.And it was absolutely wonderful. I liked the subtle magic so much. The fabulism worked sSummer of Salt is an incredibly atmospheric book that makes you feel like you're right there with the characters!

“On the island of By-the-Sea you could always smell two things: salt and magic.”

What had initially convinced me to pick this book up was the f/f romance. I'm normally not that into any kind of "witch" stories and don't read much fabulism anymore. But something about this book reached out to me.And it was absolutely wonderful. I liked the subtle magic so much. The fabulism worked super well in this setting and it seemed completely natural. The writing in general was beautiful and I really felt like I could sense the magic and smell the salt.

This book was filled to the brim with interesting characters and I loved reading about the relationships between all of them. The family dynamics were great and it was so interesting to find out about the different generations of women in the Fernweh family.While this features a great female friendship and a wonderful romance, the relationship between Georgina and her twin sister, Mary, is really at the heart of it. It is a complex relationship and they go through some tough stuff but you can always feel their bond and I love stories about relationships like that.

“In a family full of girls, you realize quickly that no girls are ordinary. Whether or not they turn into birds, girls could fly and make magic all their own.”

The romance between Georgina and Prue is really cute. I love that we have Georgina as a character who is super sure in her sexuality and has known all her life that she is gay and then Prue, on the other hand, who is a little bit newer to the idea of being attracted to girl. I don't think she uses a label but it is mentioned that she likes both boys and girls.This also has aroace representation in the form of Georgina's best friend, Vira. Both gay and aroace actually get used on paper, YAY!

The end of this book is incredibly hard-hitting and had a huge impact on me. It gives the whole magic of the Fernweh women a completely different layer.

Overall I absolutely loved this reading experience. It is a quick read but enthralls you completely in just a couple of pages. And it has so many topics and things to think about packed into it. A huge recommendation from me!

I'm so so thankful to my bookish friends who told me I had to read this book, you weren't wrong. This was a beautiful book with sexual fluidity and representation in it is often lacking in magical realism/witchy reads.

"I think a person can be home, sometimes, just as much as a place or a house can."

Chelsea from Chelseadolling reads described it as a mash-up of The Wicked Deep and The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender which are two of my favorite books. It was 100% just that, only wiI'm so so thankful to my bookish friends who told me I had to read this book, you weren't wrong. This was a beautiful book with sexual fluidity and representation in it is often lacking in magical realism/witchy reads.

"I think a person can be home, sometimes, just as much as a place or a house can."

Chelsea from Chelseadolling reads described it as a mash-up of The Wicked Deep and The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender which are two of my favorite books. It was 100% just that, only with the diversity those books lacked. We have an aromantic character, bisexual (or pan) characters, lesbian characters, and all of that is on the page cannon.

"I felt hands around my waist and knew it was my sister by the dark smell of impossibility."

This is a story of women, sisters, and the bonds of friendship. It is a study in females and their power to overcome unspeakable evils and hardships. Georgina and Mary are twins and the most recent in a long line of witches on their island town. Mary has come into her powers and Georgia has only a few months to find hers or she'll never find magic.

"In a family full of girls, you realize quickly that no girls are ordinary."

I will say that I think it lacked some of the atmosphere and lyrical writing that I wish it could have had, but it was still stunning. It was beautiful as its own work, it was harrowing in its cautions, and uplifting in its lasting message. I am really happy that I picked this book up as soon as possible after the buzz began. I really did love it.

this book is the embodiment of waves crashing into each other. you know when you’re standing on a beach, and you’re watching a wave make its way to you, and you think to yourself: “i think i should stand here and let myself be taken by the sea.” and that’s exactly what happens by the end of this book. as the last words wash over you, you realize what they mean by the act of drowning: it’s the act of escaping.

i escaped to a small little island over the course of this book, and i really don’t wanthis book is the embodiment of waves crashing into each other. you know when you’re standing on a beach, and you’re watching a wave make its way to you, and you think to yourself: “i think i should stand here and let myself be taken by the sea.” and that’s exactly what happens by the end of this book. as the last words wash over you, you realize what they mean by the act of drowning: it’s the act of escaping.

i escaped to a small little island over the course of this book, and i really don’t want to come back up for air and let go of these girls, this magic, and these words.

Summer of Salt is very unorthodox, and in a good way. Containing elements of magic and deep family ties, its characters can do any variety of amazing things at will - except for Georgie, our non-magic storyteller. Oftentimes she acts like there's nothing special about her because of her lack of powerful talents, until she meets Prue, a tourist who's arrived for a summer of bird-watching. The two girls spark up a romance, and meanwhile the book address themes of sibling rivalry, courage and the pSummer of Salt is very unorthodox, and in a good way. Containing elements of magic and deep family ties, its characters can do any variety of amazing things at will - except for Georgie, our non-magic storyteller. Oftentimes she acts like there's nothing special about her because of her lack of powerful talents, until she meets Prue, a tourist who's arrived for a summer of bird-watching. The two girls spark up a romance, and meanwhile the book address themes of sibling rivalry, courage and the power to speak up. It's more sad in the end than the book would imply by its cutesy cover artwork, but not sad in a morbid way but rather in a way that's still able to be uplifting at the same time. Hard to describe so you'll just have to take my word for it or read it to the end. I'm not a romance person either, but it's good to know that there's more LGBTQ+ fiction getting put out there for teens and young adults today to read and identify with aside from the conventional boy-meets-girl trope. The way it was written was genuine and had a lot of depth, focusing less on that it was two girls and more that it was simply two human beings in love....more

A book about magic, atmospheric island and complicated siblings relationships told in a beautiful and hypnotic writing style and yet it was lacking, something was missing or maybe was badly executed?

Summer of salt follows our main character, Georgina and her twin sister Mary as they navigate their final summer in their home island before they leave to college. Georgina and Mary Fernweh belonTrigger warning : Rape, Animal cruelty, Slut shaming

4 “We loved with a love that was more than love” stars

A book about magic, atmospheric island and complicated siblings relationships told in a beautiful and hypnotic writing style and yet it was lacking, something was missing or maybe was badly executed?

Summer of salt follows our main character, Georgina and her twin sister Mary as they navigate their final summer in their home island before they leave to college. Georgina and Mary Fernweh belongs to a family where magic passes from generation to generation. And yet our protagonist Georgina is still magic free while her sister has been using hers since she was a child.

I wanted a hundred million things, but I knew how to ask for zero of them.

The story takes place on an island when strange things happen and people ignore the fact that there’s something special about the Fernweh women but when the unthinkable happen and the sisters find themselves accused of something horrible, they have to stick together to clear their names without breaking apart.

I think the book biggest flaw is how rushed it was when it came to important stuff the book was portraying. At first, when nothing was really happened, the story was stretched out and kept going around in circles but when things really get going, the author speeds things too much and it was all really rushed and felt completely dramatic and over the top, it kind of took away from the message of the book. Bottom line is the pace of the book was all over the place and that didn’t serve the story at all.

But putting that aside, the book is written in a hypnotic and lyrical way and I loved it to pieces. I also loved the portrayal of the siblings’ relationship between Mary and Georgina and how authentic and honest it was. I specifically liked how complex it was and how it went through all the stages and was explored from different angles.

I think a person can be a home, sometimes, just as much as a place or a house can

The relationship between Georgina and Vira, her best friend was too pure and beautiful for this world and I appreciated every encounter between them all. The book also has a diverse cast of characters, our protagonist is gay, her love interest is bisexual and her best friend Vira is aroace. There is also a romance that takes shape in this book and even though it’s left open in the end without us knowing exactly what would happen, it added something beautiful to the story

When I was seventeen, I met a girl who’d traveled the world and had the kind of hair you wanted to just touch, just see what it felt like, and who when she talked to you stared so intently into your face that you felt just the tiniest bit like you were going to catch on fire.

The book also tackles the subject of rape and slut shaming and how sometimes women doesn’t feel safe to come forward when that happens to them because they believe no one will believe them and that people will side the one who hurt. There is this one conversation between the two sisters and I think it’s heartbreaking and real.

“Mary, why didn’t you tell me?” I asked.Her face darkened, and she wiggled herself deeper under the blankets, pulling them over our heads so we were totally covered.“I was afraid nobody would believe me,” she whispered, her voice soft and muffled by wool.“I would have believed you. I will always believe you.”“This island, Georgie . . . ,” she began. “This island is so small. People talk. I hear what they say about me. The whispers. I’ve heard them call me things. They would have said I was asking for it.”

Even though this book has its flaws, I really think it’s worth reading; the atmospheric and engaging setting, the whole message of the book and the beautiful writing makes this book worthy of recommendation.

"She was born for the smell of water, for the way it sank into your bones, stained your skin, dyed your blood a deep, salty blue."

This novel reads like a force of nature.The lyrical prose combined with the love for nature makes it very descriptive and surrealistic.I think the idea of the story was interesting. I like magical fiction that is written so realistically and this novel is exactly that with a lot details about daily life during summer time.It kinda reminded me of We Were Liars. I no "She was born for the smell of water, for the way it sank into your bones, stained your skin, dyed your blood a deep, salty blue."

This novel reads like a force of nature.The lyrical prose combined with the love for nature makes it very descriptive and surrealistic.I think the idea of the story was interesting. I like magical fiction that is written so realistically and this novel is exactly that with a lot details about daily life during summer time.It kinda reminded me of We Were Liars. I noticed the feminist touch to the story and I really liked that aspect of the story as well.

So, why 2 stars?I think the mystery element of the story wasn't at all captivating or even interesting. I caught myself being fairly bored with the novel. It would have been more interesting to make it a character driven story and explore the characters more, because they all fell flat and one-dimensional. They were so busy with solving.. this mystery that didn't fit the rest of the story and felt really random.Because the characters were so one-dimensional, I couldn't care less what happened to them or the dynamics.

To conclude, beautiful prose, interesting idea but the elaboration didn't work out....more

Unlike Katrina Leno’s previous books, the magical realism in Summer of Salt isn’t subtle. The magic in this book is evident right from the beginning and plays a central role in the story. What isn’t evident from the beginning, however, is the important and powerful message this book has to share. It would have been a sweet, diverse, wonderfully relatable coming-of-age story regardless, but Katrina Leno doesn’t leave it at that. She wanted her book to mean something, and oh, did she succeed. ThisUnlike Katrina Leno’s previous books, the magical realism in Summer of Salt isn’t subtle. The magic in this book is evident right from the beginning and plays a central role in the story. What isn’t evident from the beginning, however, is the important and powerful message this book has to share. It would have been a sweet, diverse, wonderfully relatable coming-of-age story regardless, but Katrina Leno doesn’t leave it at that. She wanted her book to mean something, and oh, did she succeed. This book is so empowering to girls and women, and I hope it encourages others to end their silence.

Summer of Salt is full of powerful women, sexual diversity, and sex positivity, all of which are so important when it comes to making teens feel represented and validated. I also love that the focus is on family and friendship, rather than on romantic relationships. Yes, there is a (WLW) romance, but it doesn’t ever encroach on the plot.

Like any Katrina Leno novel, this book packs an emotional punch and forces you to feel right along with the characters. The year may be young, but I can’t imagine that I’ll find many books that are this good or this powerful. I don’t want to give too much away, but I highly recommend discovering Katrina Leno’s magic for yourself....more

'I knew that he would use that gun, because that is what small, scared men did: they used things more powerful than themselves to make up the difference. They hid behind weapons of mass destruction: big guns and bigger bombs.'*

SO THIS BOOK KINDA BROKE ME AND MAYBE ALSO HEALED ME A LITTLE BIT SOBS

Holy shit, Summer of Salt just kind of creeps up on you about what its actually doing and I loved that about it. I mean, up until halfway through I was just having a great time reading this heartwarming'I knew that he would use that gun, because that is what small, scared men did: they used things more powerful than themselves to make up the difference. They hid behind weapons of mass destruction: big guns and bigger bombs.'*

SO THIS BOOK KINDA BROKE ME AND MAYBE ALSO HEALED ME A LITTLE BIT SOBS

Holy shit, Summer of Salt just kind of creeps up on you about what its actually doing and I loved that about it. I mean, up until halfway through I was just having a great time reading this heartwarming book and then BAM, things just escalated in such tragic ways and I was left heartbroken and angry. Just like Female of the Species, this book is hella important and drops some real truth bombs.

Yet it's also a book about sibling love in the face of insufferable siblings, familial love, friendshipppp and a very cute WLW (re: 'cute o'clock' ahahaha). Also, the sexual representation is great! I don't even know how Leno did that so well. I mean, we have a badass fake casual lesbian for a main character (honestly, I love her and how she's always pretty much yelling inside her head because same). Her best friend is aroace and another badass and her crush is bi and there's a whole paragraph on gay and bi girls on the island which is Georgina at her most Georgina. Also, she's so funny in a casual and unexpected way like

'Vira was the easiest of all. I told her I liked girls. She told me she didn't like anyone, at least not in a sexual way. We breathed huge sighs of relief and that was that.'*

'I'm tired,' she said.'A long day of annoying me, I don't blame you.'*

There are obviously readers in this book and references to reading and books in general that I've now come to expect from a Leno book. The writing is beautiful and so good. Honestly, Leno knows how to pack a bigass punch in less than 300 pages and make it stick. (The only other author I know who can do this is Melina Marchetta). 4 years and 4 books later, I love each and every book by her in different ways which is a feat in and of itself. (#FEELSBYLENO GOING STRONG).

I really have no idea how I've written so much because feeeeeels and tears, but this book deserves all the stars and everyone should read this to get their hearts broken and mended all in the space of a couple hundred pages.

Favorite quotes: 'I walked with my shoulders back and a jaunt in my step that I hope conveyed the message: Don't bother fucking with me. You won't get very far.'*

In Georgina Fernweh's family, it's just accepted: the Fernweh women have magic. Every female in Georgina's family has received their magic by age of eighteen. Georgina is almost eighteen, though, and she's shown no sign of getting her magic. Her twin sister, Mary, has floated since birth. Mary and Georgina live on an island, By-the-Sea, which isn't a regular place to grow up. Strange things happen here: it could snow one minute and be sunny and 70 the next. Their mother concocts sleeping potionsIn Georgina Fernweh's family, it's just accepted: the Fernweh women have magic. Every female in Georgina's family has received their magic by age of eighteen. Georgina is almost eighteen, though, and she's shown no sign of getting her magic. Her twin sister, Mary, has floated since birth. Mary and Georgina live on an island, By-the-Sea, which isn't a regular place to grow up. Strange things happen here: it could snow one minute and be sunny and 70 the next. Their mother concocts sleeping potions when the girls can't sleep. And every summer people flock to the island to watch a three-hundred-year old bird who may or may not be a Fernweh ancestor. But when something terrible happens on the island, the Fernweh family (and their magic) comes under a suspicious light. And Georgina starts to wonder about her past--and future.

I picked up this book thanks to my Goodreads friend Melanie, whose review convinced me that this was worth reading. I so rarely read a book that wasn't planned, so thanks! This was totally worth it. This is a beautiful book--it's well-written, lyrical, and a magical read, both in content and writing.

The storyline on this one is amazing--I have a soft spot for tales about twins. I really liked the dynamic between Georgina and Mary: it was very realistic. The characters are well-developed, and I fell for Georgina immediately. There's also a wonderful lesbian storyline, which is always a plus. The book weaves a mystical, magical tale--if you can't suspend disbelief easily, it might not be for you. But it's so easy to get caught up in the plot, and at its core, it's a story about families and love.

"'Well, you won't have me at college, so you'll have to make some new friends.' 'Ugh. That sounds exhausting. They should assign you friends like they assign you a roommate.'"

There's also some serious parts to this book and some just freaking amazing quotes related to sexual assault and rape that I wanted to blow up and put on the walls of every high school everywhere. I won't quote most of them here, due to spoilers, but wow--this is a powerful, powerful novel that had me pumping my fist and cheering for the characters. There's some real strength here and a message everyone should read, especially in our current times.

"Because there was nothing in a girl's history that might negate her right to choose what happens to her body."

Overall, this was a great book. It's beautifully well-written with excellent characters and a powerful message. This is one where I would love a second book to follow these characters. Highly recommend! 4.5 stars.

"On the island of By-the-Sea you could always smell two things: salt and magic."

I can already feel that this is gonna be an Unpopular Opinion Time 🐸☕

TW: rape, slut shaming

This was…just not my thing.

First though, lemme point out the diversity in this book:lesbian main character aroace side characterbi side character

If I gotta be honest, though, apart from the very appreciated diversity, the characters themselves felt rather…two-dimensional? They weren’t captivating and special.

Throughout the re"On the island of By-the-Sea you could always smell two things: salt and magic."

I can already feel that this is gonna be an Unpopular Opinion Time 🐸☕️

TW: rape, slut shaming

This was…just not my thing.

First though, lemme point out the diversity in this book:lesbian main character aroace side characterbi side character

If I gotta be honest, though, apart from the very appreciated diversity, the characters themselves felt rather…two-dimensional? They weren’t captivating and special.

Throughout the reading experience I was detached, disinterested and, if I have to be honest, bored. It didn’t help the fact that the romance was completely NOT swoon worthy. There was no chemistry whatsoever between the two and it even was a bit insalovey. No build-up, no slow burn, no chemistry. It was…with all the due respect, not good, in my opinion.

Moreover I thought the plot was not thrilling. The whole reveal about Georgina and her (possible) magical powers was painfully obvious from basically page 5 so I don’t even know why the author tried to create any kind of suspense, tbh.

I generally liked the aspects linked to the magical realism present in this book but sometimes I also couldn't really care about those either. I don't know, it was simply a rather underwhelming read.

The writing style was painfully detailed and I guess that’s why I was bored while reading this book. It was slow and the plot didn’t captivate me in the slightest. Most probably that’s because the whole plot turned around a bird - yeah, you read that right - and its (dis)adventures and the effects on people when bad things happened to said bird. I’m sorry if I sound even more cold-hearted than usual but I was painfully not interested in all that.

For as much as the overall message of this book was important (i.e. the traumatic effects of sexual assault), I can’t really say I enjoyed reading this. As I said, the writing style was not my cup of tea, the characters were nothing special and the plot was a bit boring :/

"Except there weren’t any princes on By-the-Sea. We didn’t need princes; we saved ourselves."...more

I personally had no intention of picking up Summer of Salt sooner. In my case, I really want to read it but the instant I discovered the plot would touch rape, I know I’m not in the best place to delve it. Although, impulses happen when you’re bored.

Summer of Salt is my first Katrina Leno book, and I had no idea she has penchant for exploring hard-hitting topics. The story started with a lyrical note.

On the island of By-the-Sea you could always smell two things salt and magic.

I was easily tranI personally had no intention of picking up Summer of Salt sooner. In my case, I really want to read it but the instant I discovered the plot would touch rape, I know I’m not in the best place to delve it. Although, impulses happen when you’re bored.

Summer of Salt is my first Katrina Leno book, and I had no idea she has penchant for exploring hard-hitting topics. The story started with a lyrical note.

On the island of By-the-Sea you could always smell two things salt and magic.

I was easily transported in this small island where you’ve know everyone your whole life. I love reading books that makes you immerse in the setting of the story. That’s one of my quirks and requirement. The writing has to be delightful and gripping; and the worldbuilding have to be inviting and enchanting.

Summer of Salt is a magical realism story and the characters is as beautiful as the premise. “A magic passed down through generations.” A tale about a teenage twin from an intergenerational magical family. (maybe, I will write a better summarization but for now that’s it.)

The first half of the story will explore the dynamic of the twins, their heritage, their magic, their quaint town, and their strangeness. I could keep up with the pace which is how I finished it in a couple of hours. The heroine Georgina is a lesbian while she has never used the label on the page, it’s clear she has never liked boys romantically and sexually. Summer of Salt is not about a romance novel, but she’ll have a female love interest.

The latter part of Summer of Salt will have a looming subject – rape. Readers have different tolerance when it comes to trigger topics. I highly caution recommending this novel with content warning. While, rape has never happened on page, the physical and emotional toll on the rape victim/survivor was described and talked in the story.

Overall: I like this book a lot, I would’ve given it 5 stars but I felt something is missing. Summer of Salt is equally wondrous and heart wrenching....more

My goodness!!! Summer of Salt was exactly the book I was looking for! It had everything I wanted - a beautiful and touching storyline, wonderful writing, the sense of a small community, intrigue, excitement, twin-sister relationships and a touch of the magical.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading SoS but the premise alone intrigued me and soon I was eating through the pages. SoS focuses on two twins (Georgina and Mary Fernweh) whose family have lived on an island called By-the-SeaMy goodness!!! Summer of Salt was exactly the book I was looking for! It had everything I wanted - a beautiful and touching storyline, wonderful writing, the sense of a small community, intrigue, excitement, twin-sister relationships and a touch of the magical.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading SoS but the premise alone intrigued me and soon I was eating through the pages. SoS focuses on two twins (Georgina and Mary Fernweh) whose family have lived on an island called By-the-Sea for generations and every year they welcome 'birdheads' (bird-watchers/enthusiasts/ornithologists) to their inn as they hope to spot Annabella - the famous 300 year old bird which frequents the island.

Okay, so that's the general premise. The story itself however is SO much more; it discusses sexuality (yes there is a female-female romance which I shipped hard), identity (as something rather transformative happens), family (relationships between siblings and the wider community), planning for the future (both sisters are set to leave the island to go to college), change (numerous unexpected things occur on the island), tragedy (no spoilers), the power of communication (when things finally get sorted out) and self-belief (incredibly important in this novel).

There are many messages and feelings I took away from this book and it definitely left an impression on me - I was moved to tears at one point! The writing is lyrical but not overly-flowery and the characters themselves are simply wonderful creations. I really loved Georgina - she was by far my favourite and a great role model for young adults struggling with their sexual identity.

I would recommend this to EVERYONE who wants to be moved by a magical tale.

i'm crying so much right now i can barely see the keyboard so there's that,,,, million thanks to hannah for recommending this. i love you forever.

also before we start i'm gonna put a tw for rape even though the scene is not explicit, it's just mentioned.

this little book right here came out of nowhere and it made a nest deep into my soul and settled there. it will stay with me for a long time, maybe even forever.

see, the thing about this book is, it encompasses all my favorite books while stilli'm crying so much right now i can barely see the keyboard so there's that,,,, million thanks to hannah for recommending this. i love you forever.

also before we start i'm gonna put a tw for rape even though the scene is not explicit, it's just mentioned.

this little book right here came out of nowhere and it made a nest deep into my soul and settled there. it will stay with me for a long time, maybe even forever.

see, the thing about this book is, it encompasses all my favorite books while still being its own thing, unique and special and lovable. ✧ the structure reminded me of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe: it is divided into three parts, and before each one there is a quote. needless to say i bawled my eyes out at each and every one of them.

✧ the setting reminded me of The Scorpio Races: the quaint, small, magical island where weird stuff happens at a certain time of the year? yes, sign me tf up. also while we're here, the world building is amazing, the atmosphere is indeed magical and although i wish we could get to know the inhabitants more, the place is very well described and i fell in love with it head over heels.

✧ the romance reminded me of How to Make a Wish: georgina and prue are absolute sweethearts and their relationship is so cute and wholesome and pure and just,,, precious and good and beautiful.

✧ the ending reminded me of The Night Circus: (view spoiler)[ the full circle of storytelling, i don't even have the words to describe it, it feels whole and right and it all comes together so well! we are the ants also has this kind of ending, where in the end the story seems to have been written by one of the characters and idk it just makes me so emotional and it's my favorite thing in the whole world, my favorite fiction trope (hide spoiler)]

now, i want to talk about one more thing. or a few, actually. ✦ the message of the story : this book deals with such an important topic: rape. and rape culture in general. while we're here i'm gonna also recommend Girl Made of Stars because it deal with the same thing and it's beautiful and important as well. this is beautifully handled and i'm glad people get to read mary's story and be reminded that it's not their fault, it's never the victim's fault no matter what society says or thinks. and speaking up is important, and that they are not alone.

✦ the characters are really well written, i love them all so much and especially harrison, he is an absolute cutie pie, so precious!! they all have their own voices and for such a small books they all get their time to shine.

✦ the relationships between characters. someone hold me i'm emotional. we have so many dynamics and they're all so beautiful. the sibling bond mary and georgie have?? amazing! georgie and vira?? fantastic! the relationship the girls have with their mother! the golden trio georgie/prue/harrison!! it's all so good and wholesome please!!!

✦ the atmosphere. i've talked about it earlier but i love magical realism and this was just beautiful. loved it!

long story short, READ THIS BOOK PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING HOLY!...more

This book is so beautiful, I feel so emotional about it now that I've finished it.Although it's an unquestionably magical book, it is not the magic what has captivated me, but the relationship between these two sisters and the poetic form in which the story is told. First time trying with the author but not the last one, I'm sure.

Summer of Salt follows the story of Georgina Fernweh, a 17-year-old girl who impatieThis book is so beautiful, I feel so emotional about it now that I've finished it.Although it's an unquestionably magical book, it is not the magic what has captivated me, but the relationship between these two sisters and the poetic form in which the story is told. First time trying with the author but not the last one, I'm sure.

Summer of Salt follows the story of Georgina Fernweh, a 17-year-old girl who impatiently waits to be touched by magic, just as every woman in her family has been for generations. And while her twin sister Mary has proven to be able to float since she's only a child there's still no sign of magic in Georgina. They live on this beautiful little island where many people go to each summer hoping to see this rare three-hundred-year-old bird. But this summer things will be different for the Fernweh sisters and Georgina will discover magic in all its forms.

There are so many things that I adored about this book, I really like the way in which the story is told as I feel that there is something very real about everything that happens. One of my favorite things without a doubt, is the relationship between Georgia and Mary, they are so different from each other, they really are like day and night and even then, there is a love and a unique union, like no other between these two girls. This type of relationship for me is much more valuable than any kind of romance and I've enjoyed this aspect so much. I liked seeing how Georgia is always taking care of her rebellious sister and never judging her about her actions. And even when Mary is a little cooler in terms of her emotions you can really see, especially when it comes to the end, how much she loves her sister. I'm simply in love with this sisterhood

Another very strong and great point about this book is the way in which sexuality is touched, Georgina is openly lesbian and see how she talks about this and how others act with so much support, naturalness, love and without judgment it's wonderful. I think the LGBT+ community deserved this kind of representation so incredibly real and well achieved. .The love relationship is simply lovely and I'm all for the discoveries that are in it and this love is so beautiful and so healthy. I'm amazed!

I enjoyed a lot also the friendship between our main character and her best friend Vira, they are so funny and beautiful together, also Vira is 100% the best friend in the world and she's always there, even in the most difficult moments, and the fact that she's so honest is great

I want to talk a little now about some things that didn't convince me:

The way the magic is handled is a bit strange, I love the fact that it's a family with a lineage of strong and independent women who have powers, that's great. But even so, there's something that was incomplete for me in this aspect and the way in which it unravels in the plot seems hasty, I would have liked to see a little more development and explanation in this topic.

Another thing is that I think there are parts in the book especially in the middle of it, where it's a bit heavy and there are several scenes that seem to be made in order to extend a bit more the story, which is crazy because it's a pretty short book, but it was what I felt.

Going back to the important side of the book, without wanting to do exactly spoilers, I feel I should comment that the subject of rape is touched in here, and although it's not done until the end, I think it's taken from a very interesting angle. It raises how society in some way blames the victim for the rape, and the fact that this happens in real life makes it even more shocking. We all know that the victims of abuse or rape should never be put in tremendous situation, and under that kind of look when under no circumstances is their fault, but of the alleged rapist. I want to clarify that the way in which this topic is touched is magnificent and gives you a whole new perspective of the subject leaving much to discuss. I think the author did a great job as it is not an easy topic to touch.

To finish, the end has left me in tears, I LOVED IT !. I didn't expect to cry at all, but the love I felt when I was reading this book among the characters was so beautifulthat i really felt it and what can i say!, I'm weak and I love the love between family and friends. I highly recommend this book if you want to read a captivating story with a beautiful and poetic writing style and with a great brotherhood bond that I've loved

Overall an easy read with a unique premise. I really enjoyed it until one part toward the end that was a major flop for me. I'd say 3.25 out of 5 stars but would have been a 4 without the floppy part. Lol